Without knowing the genetic differences of the birds, how can we know that cardinals and finches are likely more closely related to each other than cardinals and finches are to woodpeckers? Cardinals and finches live in more similar habitats. There is no difference in their relatedness; because they are all birds, they all evolved at the same time from a common ancestor. Cardinals and finches have more morphological similarities. Fossil records show that cardinals have been around longer than woodpeckers and sparrows.

The correct answer is - Cardinals and finches have more morphological similarities.

Explanation:

To find out the relatedness of the different species or organisms one can use genetic mapping to find precise relatedness, however, if one can not find the genetic differences of the organism one can use the morphological similarities and differences to find out how closely they are related.

Homologous structures and analogous structures are two major morphological characters to find how closely related cardinals and finches are than cardinals and finches are to woodpeckers.

not necessarily. higher fitness requires the organism to be reproductive successful. for example, an organism at age 10 with 15 offspring is much more fit than an organism at age 15 with only 5 offspring.